The Economist (September 10, 2016) noted that politicians have always lied, but current trends suggest that in today’s world, truth has been left behind entirely. We see it in political campaigns, not only in the United States but in other democracies, as in Britain during the vote to leave or stay in the European Union.

We see it also in misinformation deliberately fed into the internet, as Russia has been accused of doing in feeding falsehoods to the world through social media.

One reason for the influence of false information, suggested by The Economist, is “magical thinking.” In a time of terrorism, new diseases, and other threats not easily controlled, people are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories and fringe ideas. For some of us, they provide neat answers to complex questions. An unsubstantiated speculation “feels” right, whether or not it’s backed up with facts.

Another reason for the prevalence of falsehood is how we now choose to receive our news. Social media is helpful in putting more information at our fingertips, but little of it classifies as investigative reporting. It does have the ability to spread unsubstantiated rumor as the truth to millions in seconds.

What can be done? Checking a rumor with a reputable fact finding site is helpful. However, until we practice the hard discipline of reading more from reputable sources (online or in print), democracy will be threatened by demagogues and hucksters out for their own gain.